A dog died and Monsen’s 51-year-old female companion suffered smoke inhalation in the Monday evening fire on Sussex Stakes Street in a subdivision just east of Menifee city limits.

Police allege Monsen threatened the woman with a kitchen knife and put her in a choke hold. He later removed his possessions from the home and started a fire using an accelerant in the bedroom, according to the police report.

Two dogs in the house escaped injury, the report said.

Monsen was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, records show.